Honda EVs Are Almost Here, but Hybrids Will Stick Around for Now

• After years of wavering and slow-burning EV development, Honda is about to launch its first set of true EVs, but it isn't forgetting about hybrid and fuel-cell power, either.

• Both the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX remain on schedule and should hit respective dealerships by spring, despite partner GM's current Ultium platform issues.

• Showing off strong hybrid sales in 2023, Honda is pushing forward with the 2025 Civic Hybrid, as well as teasing the launch of a new, entry-level Acura crossover.

After years of hounding from journalists and consumers alike, Honda is finally a step or two away from launching its first real EV. It's not that the short-lived Honda Fit EV didn't count, but these impending Ultium-platformed units go beyond the title of compliance car. And Honda will have proprietary EVs soon enough, too, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Aiding in the rollout of Honda's EV (whether executives admit it or not) is a good year of sales in 2023. With 1.3 million units delivered in the US last year, Honda was up 33% year-over-year, marking the first return of some automotive market normalcy since the pandemic.

"We are now out of the recovery phase as production stabilizers are looking to sustain the momentum we established last year," said Mamadou Diallo, Senior Vice President of Sales at American Honda Motor Company. "We anticipate continued sales growth, but at a more modest pace as we maximize production with manufacturing operations while beginning to prepare for the transition to EV production for American Honda."

Of those 1.3 million units, the Honda CR-V was the most popular, accounting for 361,457 units. Both of Honda's iconic sedans (the Civic and Accord) bested 195,000 units annually, and the compact HR-V trailed behind at 122,206 units. Notably, electrified vehicles made up 22% of Honda's 1.3 million sales, with 293,647 hybrids sold in 2023.

The Honda CR-V hybrid was particularly popular, at 197,317 units sold, while the freshly released Accord hybrid accounted for 96,323 sales. Compared to 2022, that's nearly 200,000 additional electrified units sold, for a statistical increase of 205%.

Current generations of the Accord and CR-V first received the hybrid treatment for the 2023 model year, indicating a steep adoption rate over the last two years. Honda has clearly taken notice of this trend, as it teases the incoming Civic hybrid. Set for launch this summer, Honda is optimistic the Civic hybrid will make up 40% of the annual Civic sales share.

Electrified versions of the Civic will come in hatchback and sedan form. Beyond these details, Honda has been coy about potential powerplants for the Civic hybrid. The Accord and CR-V hybrid benefit from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder joined to electric motors, though it's unlikely the Civic hybrid will use the same powertrain configuration.